Reply #9: Funny you brought this up. [View All]

[foreigncorrespondent]

I was entering DU this morning with this same thought on my mind. I was also questioning my own thoughts, especially where LGBT rights are concerned. But I don't want to hijack your thread with those thoughts, so I will give you my off the top answer to your question.

What this Aussie left winger (can't say Aussie liberal or they will think I am for the right) believes is: first and foremost equality for ALL. Not just the rich white male, but everyone.

Running from your list:

Abortion: I believe in a womans right of choice for the simple reasons of rape, health problems, and poverty.

AIDS: Aids to me is a weapon of mass destruction. Spend half the money on the research for this desease that is being wasted on the unjust Iraq war.

crime/death penalty: Rehabilitation first. No one should be given the death penalty right up front. There should be no prisons but rather rehabilitation centers. After they have gone through rehabilitation they are released, but if they end up being a repeat offender, then they should be put in prison for the rest of their lives, because these people are obviously not going to be helped.

In relation to the death penalty, I can't give a straight answer, because I am both for and against it. I believe that if the evidence is 100% proof that a person committed murder/mass murder/ serial killings, then they should be put to death. But in cases where the proof isn't there 100% then they should be put in goal to serve out their life.

defense: Too much money the world over is being spent on defence, wars, WMD etc, money needs to be cut back and put back into the community.

drugs: People should be allowed to grow a couple of plants a year for their own use. The government could make a shit load of money if they began taxing the legal sale of happy weed ciggies like they do tobacco. As for the hard core illicit drugs, then the best prevention is education and understanding.

education: Should be free for all the kids.

energy: I have to think about this one. So I can't give you an answer, because you are asking for off the top answers.

the environment: Should not be touched, especially for the oil industry. They make enough money as it is.

foreign policy: Again I would have to think about this one.

free trade/globalization: If they want to make the world free, then immigration should be free as well.

gun control: People should be allowed to defend their property, family, and themselves. Regulating the sales of guns won't stop crime or shootings, it only managed to make the blackmarket richer.

healthcare: I like the way the Australian medicare works. Everyone is covered. I feel other countries should pick this kind of strategy up. (Sappho if you want more input with this ask me questions.

immigration: All allied nations like USA, Australia, Zew Zealand, U.K, etc, should have open border policy. If not that every person in a country should have a right to sponsor a foreign partner for immigration. Not discriminated against because of sexuality.

LGBT rights: Everyone is born equal. The only time we don't become equal is if we begin living our lives the way we have born to. That should change and everyone remains equal.

marriage equality: Everyone no matter what sexualyt, colour, nationality, they are, should have the right to marry the person they wish to.

religious freedom: Religious freedom is great, just religion needs to stay the hell out of politics and remain in the church.

Social Security: I can't answer this one, because the American social security is different to the Australian.

welfare: When someone becomes unemployed, the government should be more than willing to help those people out by giving them a fortnightly cheque in return for the person looking for work. Where they live should not come into it. I don't understand why someone in the United States seeking welfare should be made to move into a welfare place just to get a cheque.

Sorry if it doesn't make sense Sappho, this is really off the top of my head.